Celebrities with Bell's Palsy - Famous Faces Who Battled Facial Paralysis

George Clooney

Hollywood superstar George Clooney experienced Bell's palsy in 2007 while filming a movie. He woke up one morning unable to move the right side of his face and initially feared he had suffered a stroke.

Clooney recovered after several months of treatment but said it was a harrowing health scare at the time. He had to work hard to keep his eye from drying out and had trouble eating, drinking, and speaking normally.

Angelina Jolie

Acclaimed actress Angelina Jolie battled Bell's palsy not once but twice in her early 20s. Her left facial muscles were paralyzed for several months after each episode before regaining normal function.

Jolie credits acupuncture with helping to speed her recovery. She says the experience made her appreciate how fragile health can be and taught her not to take things like smiling for granted.

Sylvester Stallone

Hollywood action star Sylvester Stallone experienced a Bell's palsy attack in the 1990s that caused the right side of his face to suddenly become paralyzed.

Stallone slowly recovered after 3 weeks of facial exercises and treatments. He now considers himself lucky it wasn't worse and says "your health is everything" looking back on the scare.

Kelly Osbourne

Reality star and singer Kelly Osbourne suffered an episode of Bell's palsy in 2018 that impacted the left side of her face. She woke up one day unable to move her eye, lips, and nostril normally on that side.

Osbourne shared her experience on social media to raise awareness about the condition. With treatment including steroids, antivirals, and physical therapy she fully regained facial movement after several months.

Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II developed Bell's palsy in the early 1990s while in his 70s after undergoing dental work. The right side of his face was paralyzed for several weeks.

As leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope's temporary disfigurement was witnessed by millions around the world. But he soldiered on with his papal duties while he slowly regained muscle function over a period of months.

Mona Lisa

Some medical historians believe that Leonardo da Vinci's subject in the famous painting Mona Lisa may have had Bell's palsy. The slight asymmetry of her smile suggests possible right facial weakness consistent with the condition.

Of course, that can't be known for certain, but it's an interesting theory given how her enigmatic half-smile has captivated generations of art lovers.

Jason Alexander

Comedic actor Jason Alexander, best known for playing George Costanza on Seinfeld, was struck with Bell's palsy in the 1980s. The left side of his face was paralyzed for several months.

Ironically, his Seinfeld co-star Michael Richards would also later develop Bell's palsy. Both stars recovered fully after physical therapy to rebuild facial muscle strength and control.

Ricardo Montalban

Legendary actor Ricardo Montalban also battled Bell's palsy not once but twice during his long acting career. The condition left his smiling face partially paralyzed for months at a time.

But Montalban didn't let it slow him down or derail his illustrious career. With patience and treatment he recovered after each facial palsy episode and went on entertaining audiences for decades.

Shannen Doherty

90210 and Charmed star Shannen Doherty suffered an acute case of Bell's palsy in 1999 triggered by an ear infection. The entire left half of her face became paralyzed almost overnight.

After struggling through several months of facial muscle rehab and acupuncture, Doherty fully recovered. She now tries to reassure others dealing with the condition through her own experience.

Madonna

Queen of Pop Madonna suddenly developed Bell's palsy during her 2001 Drowned World Tour. The left side of her famous face was paralyzed, forcing her to cut the tour short.

After extensive facial therapy and rest, Madonna made a full recovery within months. But the scary health crisis got her thinking about taking better care of herself and slowing down her frenetic lifestyle.

Quinton Aaron

Actor Quinton Aaron, best known for his role in The Blind Side, experienced Bell's palsy as a adult after a dental infection spread to his facial nerves. Half his face was paralyzed for several months.

Aaron regained full facial function after treatment but says it was one of the scariest things he's ever faced. His partial facial paralysis made it difficult to do his job as an actor during recovery.

Ross Lynch

Young actor Ross Lynch from Austin & Ally battled severe Bell's palsy as a teenager while filming the Disney show. The entire right side of his face became paralyzed.

Lynch kept performing during recovery but had trouble making facial expressions. With therapy he slowly regained muscle control and considers the experience a valuable life lesson about overcoming challenges.

Tim Payne

Australian rugby star Tim Payne suffered temporary Bell's palsy after a 2019 match collision left his face and shoulder badly injured. The left side of his face was paralyzed for several months.

Payne recovered after extensive rehab but says it was tough being a recognizable athlete unable to smile or show normal facial expressions until the paralysis resolved.

The Takeaway

Bell's palsy can affect people from all walks of life, including many beloved celebrities and public figures. The temporary facial paralysis caused by damage to the facial nerve can make it difficult to smile, wink, or convey normal facial expressions.

While fully recovering takes patience and effort, the vast majority do regain full facial muscle function and movement after a Bell's palsy episode. Many celebrities have bravely battled the condition in the public eye and used their platform to help destigmatize facial palsy.

Hopefully their stories can provide inspiration and hope to the many regular people also fighting through a diagnosis of Bell's palsy every year. With proper treatment and support, the condition can usually be overcome with time as these famous faces have demonstrated.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.